Houston’s Diaz beats Malignaggi in unanimous decision

Diaz beats Malignaggi in decision

HOUSTON — Juan Diaz beat Paulie Malignaggi in a 12-round, unanimous decision on Saturday night to win the vacant NABO junior welterweight championship.

Diaz, a Houston native, fought the last 10 rounds with a bloody cut over his left eye. But the hometown crowd cheered every punch Diaz landed, and Malignaggi thought that swayed the judges.

The scorecards were 118-110, 116-112 and 115-113 in favor of Diaz. Malignaggi called the decision “ridiculous” and asked for a rematch in his hometown of New York.

Earlier, Robert Guerrero stopped South Africa’s Malcolm Klassen in a unanimous, 12-round decision to take Klassen’s IBF junior lightweight belt.

Also, Danny Jacobs earned the vacant NABO middleweight belt with a 10-round decision over Ishe Smith.